Introduction

Separation Processes
A physical process in which a mixture is
separated into individual components or
group of components.
Why?
Product specification
Recovery
Purification

Separation Processes

Chemical Process Operations

Key operations

1)Chemical
reactions

Auxiliary operations

2)separation of
A mixture of chemicals

From Chemistry point of view

A+BC+D
From Engineering point of view:

Separation costs account 50-90% in a chemical plants!

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Separation processes includes:

enrichment
concentration
purification
refining
isolation

Types of Mixture
Homogeneous

Heterogeneous

Create another phase

or Add another phase

Exploit the existing

phase difference

Separation of Heterogeneous Mixtures

Settling by gravity
(settling tank, sedimentation tank, classifier)
Flotation by gas bubbles
Centrifugal Separations
(cyclone, ultracentrifuge)
Filtration
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Separations of Homogeneous Mixtures

How does it work?

Mixture
i, j, , etc.

Separating
Agent

1
2

xi,1
xj,1

xi,2
xj,2

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Separations of Homogeneous Mixtures

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General Separation Techniques

Phase 1

Separation by phase creation

e.g. distillation, crystallization,
evaporation

Feed

Phase
Creation
Phase 2

Phase 1

Separation by phase addition

e.g. absorption, extraction

Feed

MSA
Phase 2

Phase 1

Separation by barrier
e.g. reverse osmosis,
gas permeation

Feed

Barrier

Phase 2
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Separation by solid agent.

e.g. adsorption, ion exchange

Feed

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 1

Separation by force field or gradient.

e.g. electrolysis, centrifugation

Feed

Force field
or gradient
Phase 2

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Types of Separating Agent

Energy Heat transfer
Mass Liquid absorbent
Stripping vapour
Liquid solvent
Gas bubble

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Types of Separation Processes

Equilibrium Governed

Rate Governed

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Equilibrium Governed Processes

Vapour
product

Vapour
product

Liquid
product

Flash Vaporization

Liquid
product

Distillation
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Other Equilibrium Governed Processes

absorption / desorption (stripping)
humidification / dehumidification
extraction / leaching

adsorption

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Rate Governed Processes

membrane separation
crystallization
electrolysis

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Types of Separation Process

Absorption
A solute or solutes are absorbed from the gas phase into a
liquid phase in absorption. It involves molecular and turbulent
diffusion or mass transfer of solute A through a stagnant nondiffusing B by the liquid water C.

Humidification
Humidification that involves gas as pure air and liquid as
pure water. Dehumidification involves removal of water vapor
from air.

Distillation
It involves a volatile vapor phase and a liquid phase that
vaporizes.
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Types of Separation Process

Leaching (Extraction)
Fluid is used to extract a solute from a solid.

Membrane separation
Separation of molecules by the use of membranes that
control the rate of movement of molecules between two
phases.

Crystallization
Solute components soluble in a solution is removed from the
solution by adjusting the conditions (e.g. temp., conc.). When
the solubility of one or more solute components is exceeded,
they crystallize out as a solid phase.
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Types of Separation Process

Liquid-liquid Extraction
When a solute or solutes are removed from a liquid phase
to another liquid phase.

Adsorption
One or more liquid or gas stream are adsorbed on the
surface or in the pores of a solid adsorbent. Desorption
occurs when the liquid or gas particles (adsorbate) escape
from the adsorbent.

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Separation Principles
Separation of components may depends on
the following factors:
Boiling points
Concentration
Bubble point
Dew point
Vapour pressure

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Some definitions:
Bubble Point Temperature
The temp. at which the first vapor bubble is formed when
liquid is heated slowly at constant pressure.
Dew Point Temperature
The temp. at which the first liquid droplets is formed when a
vapor is cooled slowly at constant pressure.

Dew Point Pressure

The pressure at which the first liquid droplets is formed
when a vapor is compressed slowly at constant temp.
Bubble Point Pressure
The pressure at which the first bubble is formed when a
liquid is expanded slowly at constant temp.
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